Retractable table and handle system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A retractable table system integrated into luggage is disclosed herein. The table can be retracted and deployed along with the telescopic retractable handle system employed in luggage. The table retracts inside the luggage compartment for storage.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the current invention relate to the mechanical arts and are directed to devices employing retractable handles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retractable handles integrated into luggage are a part of popular luggage designs, due in part to the way the handles and telescopic support bars slide seamlessly into the luggage.

In crowded airports and other places, a table or work station for placing a drink and or a book, magazine, laptop, or any other material or device is desirable and attempts have been made to build travel work stations that attach to luggage. However, these attempts generally fall short in achieving a table that is easy to deploy for use and retract for convenient storage. These attempts further fall short in achieving a table that pivots upon a permanent attachment to the telescopic support bars and is completely hidden from view when stored.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,019 discloses a variation of a table that can be attached to a handle. However, among other differences, the table does not hinge to the retractable handle nor does the table retract inside the luggage.

U.S. Pat. Application No. 2008/0134946 discloses a simple table for luggage, but requires the table to be fully detached in order to store it.

U.S. Pat. Application No. 2010/0236884 discloses a table for luggage, but it also requires the table to be fully detached in order to store it.

A need exists for a table to fit seamlessly within luggage just as common retractable handles with telescopic support bars seamlessly fit into luggage. The rush of modern travel motivates a need for a table and retractable handle to change from being completely stored to being deployed in a minimum number of steps. These steps should be seamless and easy, and achievable even if the user's hands are full.

SUMMARY

The lack of access to tables in crowded airports and the inconvenience of attaching existing tables and cup holders to retractable luggage handles and storing in separate compartments is solved by the present invention. The present invention is a luggage apparatus and an apparatus for any device that employs a retractable handle. The luggage apparatus has a table that may be deployed from a retractable luggage handle by pushing the table, and may be stored in the same luggage along with the retractable handle system with another push on the table.

Deploying or retracting and storing the table may take only one extra step from the means of deploying or retracting and storing commonly used luggage handles. It is also possible to deploy and/or retract the table with no additional steps or requirements from the person pulling the luggage. With common luggage handles, a button can be pushed to ready a retractable handle for deployment or retraction and storage. The integrated table can be deployed by pushing the button and lifting the handle as is done with common luggage handles and allowing the table to fall to a rest position that may be parallel to the ground when the luggage is in an upright, resting position. In other embodiments, the table may require a push from a person so that the table falls to the desired position, which may be parallel or substantially parallel to the ground. Similarly, the table can be retracted and stored by pushing on the table so that it lifts until the top of the table and the bottom of the table are substantially parallel to the handle system. Then, as is done with common retractable luggage handles, a user may push the button to allow the handle to be retracted and then push the handle to store the table and the support bars substantially inside the luggage. The support bars may be telescopic, in that one fits inside another, which may fit inside another, and so on so that there may be a plurality of supports bars that can extend in length or retract so that all the support bars occupy less volume, particularly volume that is substantially horizontal. It is also possible to use the invention with no extra steps from common retractable luggage handles. In a simple form, the handle can be lifted and the table will automatically fall out into the deployed position. In another form, the button that engages or disengages the retractable handle on common luggage can also retract or deploy the table, so that no additional manual steps by the person using the luggage are necessary to retract and deploy the table.

The summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the current invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

DEFINITIONS

“deployed plane” is the configuration wherein the plane of the top and bottom surfaces of a table are at the desired angle with respect to the ground for a desired use. For the purposes of illustrating one example of a desired angle for deployment, see FIG. 6. This angle can be adjusted according to the user's application.

“retracted plane” is the configuration wherein the plane of the top and bottom surfaces of a table are parallel or sufficiently parallel to two bars that extend and support a handle and best seen in FIG. 2 a, 2 b, or 2 c. The planes must be sufficiently parallel so that the table can retract into luggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the current invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of an open luggage apparatus with a retractable handle that contains an integrated table;

FIG. 2A is a view of the luggage apparatus where the table is in the retracted plane but where the handle is deployed rather than retracted;

FIG. 2B is another embodiment of the view in FIG. 2A of the luggage apparatus where the table is in the retracted plane but where the handle is deployed rather than retracted;

FIG. 2C is another embodiment of the view in FIG. 2A of the luggage apparatus where the table is in the retracted plane but where the handle is deployed rather than retracted

FIG. 3A is a three dimensional view of the luggage apparatus with a retractable handle showing an embodiment for supporting the table when it is retracted in the luggage;

FIG. 3B is another three dimensional view of the luggage apparatus with a retractable handle showing an embodiment for supporting the table when it is retracted in the luggage;

FIG. 3C is a three dimensional view of the point where the table can slide into the luggage;

FIG. 3D is another three dimensional view of the point where the table can slide into the luggage;

FIG. 4A is a three dimensional view of the table partially retracted into the luggage so that the table is in the retracted plane;

FIG. 4B is a sheath to shield the table when the table is partially or fully retracted into the luggage;

FIG. 5 is a two dimensional view of straps that shield the table when the table is partially or fully retracted into the luggage;

FIG. 6 is a two dimensional view of the table in a deployed plane.

The drawing figures do not limit the current invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Although most of the drawings show the table and handle system integrated into luggage, the integrated table and handle can be used on all types of luggage and other rolling items, such as bar-b-que grills, coolers and other items that are pulled or pushed by a retractable handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the current invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the current invention is defined only by the claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. For example, all figures show a common rectangular box type luggage with a retractable handle. However and still as an example, this invention is appropriate for all types of luggage and cases with retractable handles or retractable bars, such as duffel bags with retractable handles and cases with retractable handles as well as other items and systems using retractable handles or retractable bars, such as but not limited to coolers and bar-b-que grills.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

A table 120 capable of deploying from inside a suitcase and retracting back into a suitcase and is integrated into the retractable handle 124 system often seen on rolling luggage is shown on FIG. 1 and described herein. Among other uses, the table 120 is capable of supporting items, such as a drink cup or glass or a reading device or book.

The table 120 is generally attached to the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 that support the luggage handle 124, but the table can swivel or pivot at the point or points where it connects to the left bar 108 and the right bar 118. The table 120 can swivel or pivot so that it is parallel with the plane created by the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 (this is when the table is in the “retracted plane” as defined above) and is then capable of sliding into the luggage. The angle created by the table 120 and the plane of the two bars can go beyond perpendicular, and although often limited by luggage or the handle, the table 120 could rotate a full three hundred sixty degrees depending upon the location of the pivoting attachment and the size of the table 120. The table 120 also has another attachment point or points where it can attach to the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 so that the table is selectively held in the retracted plane. When the table 120 is in the retracted plane, the table 120 can retract inside the luggage along with the handle 124 when the handle is pushed towards the luggage.

In FIG. 2 a, the pivoting attachment is shown to consist of two shafts extending from the table, a left shaft 102 and a right shaft 112, fixed to the table 120 and protruding in opposite directions. The shafts are generally rods, but can be bolts, dowels, axles, pins, poles or any type of shaft of a reasonably strong material. The shafts are generally cylindrical, but could also be polygonal and are perpendicular to the left bar 108 and right bar 118. The material could be the same material as the table 120 or a different material, such as a metal or polymer or ceramic or fiberglass or any other material strong enough, light enough and inexpensive enough to be employed as a table in this application.

The left shaft 102 and the right shaft 112 fit into a hole in the left bar 103 and a hole in the right bar 113 in FIG. 2 a, but extensions and sockets may be reversed such that the table contained the sockets and the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 contained the extensions. In another embodiment, the left shaft 102 and the right shaft 112 may be flanged on each end, so that the shafts can rotate freely with respect to both the table and the left bar 108 and right bar 118. In another embodiment, one shaft has one flange on each end that maintain connection to the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 and the shaft runs through a hole in the table 120 allowing the table to pivot around the shaft. The flange may be integral to the shaft or the flanges may be separate pieces, like nuts on bolts.

FIG. 1 shows two extensions of table 120 that are not fixed to the left bar 108 and the right bar 118. The left extension 104 and the right extension 114 are capable of connecting to the left bar 108 and the right bar 118, however, and one means of connection is a temporary connection by friction force. In one embodiment, the left extension 104 and the right extension 114 are springs or consist partially of springs so that the left extension 104 is held in a socket 106 in the left bar and the right extension 114 is held in a socket 116 on the right bar primarily by means of the friction force of the spring acting upon the corresponding socket. In another embodiment, the sockets 106 and 116 can be curved wells so that the curvature creates an additional force to the friction that holds the left extension 104 and right extension 114 in the corresponding socket. In addition to other embodiments, this embodiment could be reversed so that the sockets were on the table and the extensions were on the bars that support the luggage handle. In one embodiment, wherein the left extension 104 connects into the socket 106 and the right extension 114 connects into the socket 116, the table 120 is parallel to the plane of the left bar 108 and the right bar 118. In another embodiment, only one extension, such as the left extension 104, and one socket, such as the left socket 106, can be used to hold the table in the retracted plane. In another embodiment, the right side can hold the force. In still another embodiment, a plurality of extensions and sockets can hold the table in the retracted plane.

In some embodiments, the width of the table 120 is limited by the distance between the left bar 108 and the right bar 118. In some embodiments, the length of the table is limited by the distance between the handle 124 and the luggage 140. Additionally, the space between the end of the table 120 that is furthest away from the pivot point on the table and the handle 124 may be two to four inches when the table is in the retracted plane.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 typically fit in at least one larger bar each so that the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 can retract towards the bottom of the luggage 128 and the bars retract as the handle retracts providing the table 120 is in the retracted plane. Retracting the table is often done by applying a force to the table to lift it into a position so that the table 120 is in the retracted plane and then depressing a button 126 for retracting the handle 124. FIG. 1 shows a groove 122 that allows shaft 102 and extension 104 to slide into the luggage. When the table is retracted into the luggage, it can be covered by fabric 130 or some other cover.

FIG. 2A shows another embodiment of the table 120 that embodies a drink holder 202 and groove 204. The groove 204 can also be a convex bump so that it protrudes from the table. In some embodiments, there are one or more grooves or bumps. Different combinations of grooves and bumps are possible.

The left shaft 102 and the right shaft 112 may have an expanded end like the top of a bolt or nail, or the extension may connect to nuts such that the left shaft 102 cannot easily come out of the left hole 103 and so that the right shaft 112 cannot easily come out of the right hole 113. The expanded end may be any configuration that prevents a shaft from being pulled out of a hole in one direction. The expanded end does not need to be an integral piece with respect to the shaft, but can instead be a separate piece like a nut on a bolt.

The left extension 104 and the right extension 114 may be buttons that are depressed only when an opposing force depresses the button. The force of the button may come from a spring. In one embodiment, the buttons are similar to the buttons that are depressed to adjust the height of commonly used crutches. The left extension 104 and the right extension 114 can fit snugly into the left socket 106 and the right socket 104 respectively, so that a force is needed to move the table 120 into and out of the retracted plane. The force needed to push the table 120 out and into the retracted plane is generally more than one pound of force, but less than forty pounds of force. In one embodiment, wherein a strong connection is ideal, the ideal force applied to the table 120 is twenty to forty pounds of force. In another embodiment, wherein the table can be supported in the retracted plane by a means other than or in addition to the friction force exerted between the left extension 104 and left socket 106 and the friction force exerted between the right extension 114 and right socket 116, the ideal force applied to the table 120 is greater than one pound but less than ten pounds. In an embodiment where a mix of the two features is desirable, the ideal force applied to the table 120 is greater than five pounds of force but less than twenty-five pounds of force. In another embodiment, the desirable force applied to move the table out of the retracted position is between ten and fifty pounds. In another embodiment, the force required is less than one pound of force.

FIG. 2B shows that the left shaft 102 and left extension 104 may be fixed to the left bar 108 and the right shaft 112 and the right extension 114 may be fixed to the right bar 118. The left hole 103 and left socket 106 are then on the table 120, as are the right hole 113 and right socket 116. The left shaft 102 and the right shaft 104 may have expanded ends like the head of a nail or bolt or and expanded head similar to a flange and including a flange. The expanded end may be any configuration that prevents a shaft from being pulled out of a hole in at least one direction. The expanded end does not need to be an integral piece with respect to the shaft although it can be integral, but the expanded end can also be a separate piece like a nut on a bolt or a collar on a shaft.

There may also be a plurality of grooves or depressions or humps 204. The table 120 can be integrated into retractable handle systems wherein the button 120 for activating the handle 124 is located on the luggage as shown or in other places. The table 120 can be integrated into luggage that does not have a button for activating the handle 124, but instead uses other means to activate the retractable handle. The left shaft 102 and right shaft 112 can be above or below the other extensions 104 and 114 do not pivot. There can be a plurality of extensions that do not pivot on each side that hold the table 120 in the retracted plane.

In the FIG. 2C embodiment, the extension, which provides the pivoting means wherein the table attaches to the left bar 108 and right bar 118, is a single shaft. The single shaft 102 runs through the table 120 and fits loosely around the shaft 102 so that the table 120 can pivot around the shaft 102. The shaft runs through at least one side of the left bar 108 and at least one side of the right bar 118. The shaft may have expanded ends that are configured to prevent the expanded ends from passing through holes 103 and 113. If the shaft 102 runs through both sides of the left bar 108 and the right bar 118, then the expanded ends of the shaft 102 can be accessed on the outside of the left bar 108 and the right bar 118.

In one embodiment expressed in FIG. 3A, supports 332 and 334 are attached to the luggage or the left sheath 302 and the right sheath 312 so that the table 120, when retracted inside the luggage, rests on or next to the supports 332 and 334. Among other benefits, the supports prevent the force of a tightly packed suitcase from creating a force (the force created by a person pushing on the flap or cover of luggage) pushing toward the back of the luggage 350 so that the table 120 falls out of the retracted plane. In other embodiments, the supports are not needed because the extensions 104 and 114 are held in the left groove 122 in FIG. 3A and the right groove 132 in FIG. 3B.

In FIG. 3C, the groove 122 in the sheath 302 is large enough to allow the shaft of shaft 102 to pass. In one embodiment, the groove 122 width is only 1%-5% larger than the diameter of the left shaft 102 and the left extension 104, but the groove 122 width can be less than 1% larger than the diameter of the shaft and the extension. In another embodiment and wherein the table is in the retracted plane and in the luggage, the left shaft 102 and the left extension 104 make constant contact with the sheath 302, and more specifically the part of the sheath that is on the side of groove 122 that is closer to the back 350 of the luggage.

FIG. 3D, the groove 132 in the sheath 312 is large enough to allow the shaft of shaft 112 to pass and the ratio could be unlimited. In one embodiment, the groove 132 width is only 1%-5% larger than the diameter of the right shaft 112 and the right extension 114, but the groove 132 width can be less than 1% larger than the diameter of the right shaft 112 and the right extension 114. In another embodiment and when the table is in the retracted position and in the luggage, the right shaft 112 and the right extension 114 make constant contact with the sheath 312, and more specifically the part of the sheath that is on the side of the groove 132 that is closer to the back 350 of the luggage. The smaller groove to shaft ratio allows the table to be firmly held in the retracted plane while the table is retracted.

FIG. 4A illustrates a different embodiment of the sheath that contains the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 when the handle 124 and the table 120 are partially retracted. Sheath 402 is a flat, hard material that covers the table 120 when the table is retracted and stored in the luggage. The material of the sheath 402 can be a hard plastic or metal such as sheet metal. The sheath can be in many configurations, including multiple pieces of plastic or metal and mixes of the same. For example, the invention could use any existing plastic or metal individual sheaths 302 and 312 with the appropriate grooves 122 and 132, and then covered with a sheet of thin metal with tabbed ends 402 as shown in FIG. 4B. In another embodiment, the sheath is one piece and receives both the smaller bars 108 and 118 as well as the table 120.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of supports that can be used to prevent the table 120 from falling out of the retracted plane. FIG. 5 shows a plurality of supports 502, 504, 506, 508, and 510 that would be on top of the table when the luggage is laid down such that the left bar 108 and the right bar 118 are closest to the ground and parallel to the ground. There can be more or less supports as shown in FIG. 5. A fabric 130 may be pulled tightly and fastened tightly over the supports and the retractable table 120.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment and method for obtaining a desired angle for the deployed table 120. Spacers 602 may attach to the luggage and allow the table 120 to rest on the spacer 602. The spacers 602 may come in multiple sizes to accommodate various angles for table 120. The spacers may attach to the bag in any means known in the art, such as Velcro or snap buttons, or the spacers may rest freely on the bag. A more permanent manner for the device to come to a desired angle is to modify the level of extensions 102 and 112 on bar 108 and 118. FIG. 6 also shows a hump 604. A plurality of humps may be included. 

I claim:
 1. A retractable table system comprising a retractable handle supported by two parallel bars and a table having a top and bottom surface wherein the table is coupled between the two parallel bars such that the table pivots around an axis perpendicular to the two extendable bars wherein the table is operable to be fastened in a retractable plane wherein the table and two parallel bars operates to retract into luggage having a storage compartment.
 2. The table system of claim 1 wherein the means of coupling the table to the two bars is achieved by two shafts on each side of the table that fit into a receiving port on the inside of each of the two bars that extend to support the extendable handle.
 3. The table system of claim 1 wherein the table is operable to be fastened in the retractable plane by a connection comprising one or more convex sockets paired with one or more extensions.
 4. The table system of claim 3 wherein the one or more extensions are comprised of spring extensions.
 5. The table system of claim 3 wherein the one or more extensions are coupled to one or more of the two parallel bars and the one or more convex sockets are on the table.
 6. The table system of claim 1, wherein the means of coupling the table to the two bars is achieved by one shaft expanded at each end and running at least partially through the two parallel bars, wherein the shaft also runs loosely through the table.
 7. The table system of claim 4, wherein the one or more spring extensions and one or more convex sockets are configured so that the force needed to push the table out of the position that is parallel to the two bars is more than 1 pound but less than fifteen pounds.
 8. The table system of claim 1 wherein the table contains a cutout that can hold a drink cup and grooves that are configured to run parallel to the handle.
 9. The table system of claim 1, wherein a sheath inside the luggage compartment will be configured such that the sheath shields the two parallel bars and the table when the two parallel bars and the table are retracted inside the luggage.
 10. The table system of claim 1, wherein the table is sized and the pivoting coupling is configured so that any part of the table is at least two inches away from the retractable handle.
 11. The table system of claim 1, wherein inserts can be placed between the luggage and the table so that the table will rest at a desired angle to the ground when the luggage is at rest.
 12. A retractable table system comprising an extendable luggage handle having two parallel supports bars and a substantially rectangular table having opposite short sides that are parallel to the extendable luggage handle and opposite long sides that are perpendicular to the handle wherein two shafts extend in opposite directions along the same axis off the long sides of the table. wherein the centerline of the shafts is less than three inches away from one of the short sides of the table and wherein the shafts fit into receiving ends on the two parallel supports bars and two extensions extend in opposite directions along the same axis off the long sides of the table wherein part of each extension will fit into a corresponding socket on each of the two bars that extend to support the extendable luggage handle and wherein the location of the indentations are such that the extensions on the table will align with the indentations when the table is parallel to the two bars.
 13. The retractable table system of claim 12, wherein the table has at least one receiving port for a cup and at least one groove that runs parallel to the extendable luggage handle.
 14. The retractable table system of claim 12, wherein the extensions are button springs that require a total force between one and fifteen pounds to push the extensions out of the sockets.
 15. The retractable table system of claim 12, wherein leveling supports can be fixed to the bottom of the table so that the table rests at the desired angle to the ground when the luggage is at rest.
 16. The retractable table system of claim 12, wherein the luggage compartment that holds the two bars is configured with supports that prevent the table from falling out of the retracted plane.
 17. A method of deploying a retracted table system, said method comprising disposing a button on an extendable luggage handle to extend the handle, pulling on the handle to extend the handle, and allowing the table to fall to a rest.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising an additional step after pulling on the handle to extend the handle, that additional step comprising the step of pushing the table with enough force to disengage the table from a retractable plane.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein leveling supports placed under the table so that the table will fall to a rest on the luggage at a desired angle.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the force required to disengage the table is more than one pound and less than ten pounds. 